Amuru 

During his entire sixteen years of life, Tamali Oceng, a student at Creamland High School in Amuru district did not know that he had a heart problem until he was diagnosed in 2010. 

 

On and off admissions at Lacor hospital prompted his guardians to request further investigations and the results now conclusively indicated that he has a heart problem which needs about shs 60 million for an operation to be carried out in India.

 

“General body weakness, difficulty in breathing, chest pain and being sickly all the time, prompted thorough check ups and the results were traumatizing, said Tamali.  Adding further that “The fact that I come from a poor family means that I cannot afford that treatment, how are we going to rise this much money, Tamali asked?” 

 

Tamali says that the sickness has affected his studies which is also affected his ambition of becoming a doctor so that he can help the helpless in the community.

 

Tamali lost both his parents five years ago and currently lives with his brother who is a peasant farmer in Lamogi Sub County, Amuru district.

 

Gulu Regional Referral Hospital non-communicable diseases specialist, Dr Alice Lamwaka says that Tamali was born with a defective heart valve also referred to as congenital heart disease that needs an operation to fit an artificial one.

She says the disease is mostly genetic, resulting from a defect in fertilisation or organ development of the child before birth.

“Even though the disease is rare in the region, it’s difficult to detect at birth unless relevant tests are done as a follow up after birth, if it is suspected,” said Dr Lamwaka.

 

Dr Lamwaka says that once the operation is done, Tamali should be able to lead a very normal life and be able to continue with his education uninterrupted.